Folding bed



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. D. SNYDER.

FOLDING BED.

No. 487,685. Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

W. 'D. SNYDER.

FOLDING BED.

No. 487,685. Patented Dec; 6, 1892..

Fly. 2. M

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W'ILLIAM D. SNYDER, OF CHICAGO, ASSIGN OR TO RALPH IV. EMERSON AND WILLIAM F. WOODRUFF, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,685, dated December 6, 1892.

Application filed April 28, 1892.

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM D. SNYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of folding beds known as combination-beds, in which a cabinet or front is supported in such a manner that it may be moved in order to expose the bed-frame and permit the same to be lowered for use.

The object of this invention is to provide a stationary case having a base for its support and within which is located the bed-frame, which has a pivotal or swinging connection therewith, and a front having a connection with the bed-frame and a sliding engagement therewith, so as to be capable of being moved to one side in order that the bed may be used.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of the front of the bed, in which the front is moved to one side. Fig. 2 is an isometrical representation of the bed as seen from the rear in its open position. Fig. 3 is an isometrical representation of my improved bed, in which a portion of the front is broken away to more clearly show the parts.

The stationary case is formed of the sides 2 and top 3 and has a base portion 4:, extending forward from its face. Upon the upper face of this base are secured bars 5, which form guideways, and a bar 6 has its under face cut away for a purpose to further appear. Within the stationary'case is locateda bedframe 7, having such a connection therewith that it may be lowered in order that it may assume a horizontal position when opened, and a catch 8 holds it in place when closed within the case.

The front 9 may be of any desirable out-line form-for instance, a secretary, wardrobe, or book-caseand is located over the base portion 4 when the bed is closed. The means for supporting this front consists of a track 10, secured to the bottom of the bed-frame some distance above the base of the stationary case. Upon the back of the front are secured two. frames 11, within which are mounted rollers Serial No. 431,072. (No model.)

12, which have a rolling engagement with the frame and track. The front is thus supported upon this track, so that its bottom passes freely over the base of the stationary case. A guidebar 13 is secured to the bottom of the front and moves within the guide formed by the bars 5, secured to the upper face of the base, which prevents lateral movement of the lower end of the front. The upper end of this front at its rear edge has a bar 14 secured thereto, and rollers 15, secured to the top of the stationary case, engage this bar, which prevents lateral motion of the upper end of the front. Thusfarasdescribed thefrontmaybe moved upon the track secured to the bed-frame across the face of the stationary case to the extent of the length of the track, and I will now describe the means employed to allow the front to move clear of the bed-frame in order that the bed may be lowered for use.

Between the meeting faces of the stationary case and front I locate a frame composed of ends 16 and 17, top 18, and bottom 19, secured together. To the rear face of the top I secure a dovetailed guide-bar 20, which is guided in a corresponding guideway formed in the face of the stationary case, and a track 21 is so located as to extend above the top bar 18. A foot 22 supports the lower outer end of the extension and is provided with anotch 23, which forms a guideway for the guide-bar 13, secured to the bottom of the front. Casters 24 are secured to the under side of the foot 22 in order that it may be drawn easily over the floor or carpet. The inner end 25 of he lower rail of the extension is guided between the bars 5 and 6, and a lateral extension 26 passes under the bar 6, which forms a guide therefor. WVhen the bed is closed, this extension is pushed in between the meeting faces of the stationary case and front.

When it is desirable to open the bed, the extension is withdrawn, which will bring its track 21 in the same plane as the track 10, secured to the under side of the bed-frame. The front may then be moved, so that its wheeled supports will rest upon the track of the extension and the guide-bar 13 will have entered the notch or guideway 23 of the foot of the extension. The guide-bar 14, secured to the upper end of the front, will pass along under the rollers 15, but will retain its engagement with the end roller. The bed-frame is then relieved from its engagement with the stationary case and may be lowered to a horizontal position, the track 10 moving with it. The open position of the front is shown at Figs. 1 and 2.

The bed is closed by raising the bed-frame and securing it to the stationary case, which will bring the track 10 in line with the track 21 of the extension. The front is then moved upon the tracks until its Weight is supported by the track secured to the bed-frame, and will be directly in front of the stationary case. The extension is then moved in between the case and front until it is flush with the outside.

It will be noticed that the track of the extension lies in the same horizontal and vertical plane when the extension is withdrawn, in order that a continuous track may be formed. It will also be noticed that in order to move the extension in, the track of the extension passes in front and alongside of the track on the bed-frame, and that the inner end of the extension-track extends beyond the first roller of the series secured to the back of the front, the rollers being wide enough to accommodate both tracks, and in order to permit the easy insertion and withdrawing of the extension I drop the inner end of the extension-track, so that it will free the under side of the first roller, and upon the withdrawal of the extension I raise the end of the track to a level with the track of the bed-frame. I accomplish this by means of a wedge-block 27, secured in the pathway of the inner end 25 of the lower rail of the extension, and while the extension is withdrawn its inner lower end rests upon this wedge, elevating it, and when moved in it will drop the thickness of the wedge, which is sufficient to clear the roller.

A latch 28, secured to the inner face of the front near its rear face, engages the framework of the extension, which prevents the front being moved off the track; but byturning the latch the front is free to be removed from its engagement with the tracks and stationary case.

I claim as my invention 1. A folding bed having a stationary case, a bed-frame located therein, a sliding front, a track located between the stationary case and sliding front above the base of the stationary case upon which the front is supported when the bed is closed, and a sliding extension for the track, having a connection with the case and upon which the front is supported when the bed is opened.

2. A folding bed having a stationary case, a bed-frame located therein, a sliding front, a track supported by the bed-frame, and a sliding extension for the track, having aconnection with the case and upon which the front is supported when the bed is opened.

3. A folding bed having a stationary case, a bed-frame located therein, a sliding front, a track supported by the bed-frame, and a sliding extension for the track, having a connection with the case, the inner end of the extension having a vertical movement to permit such end to drop below the level of the track of the bed-frame when in its closed position or raise on a level therewith when opened out.

4. A folding bed having a stationary case, a bed-frame located therein, a sliding front, a track supported by the bed-frame, a sliding extension for the track, having a connection with the case, the base of the extension provided with a guideway, and a guide on the under side of the front, engaging the guideway when the bed is opened.

WILLIAM D. SNYDER Witnesses:

A. O. BEHEL, E. BEHEL. 

